Attorney Profile

Gary Grimm is a solo practitioner based in the San Francisco Bay Region. After 20 years in public service advising and representing state water quality regulatory agencies and working closely with many other regulatory agencies, he established his law firm in 1996.  This unique combination of regulatory agency background and private practice experience enables him to provide strategic, practical, and effective solutions for complex water quality issues and achieve client goals in a cost-effective manner.

Gary Grimm has advised and represented many business, public agency, and individual clients in water quality related matters at the local, state, and federal level. These water quality cases have included:

  • Permit issuance, implementation, compliance, and enforcement response actions
  • Groundwater contamination investigation, site cleanup, remediation, and closures
  • Surface water regulation
  • Municipal, construction activity, and industrial stormwater runoff cases
  • Wastewater discharge and reclamation
  • Wetland and upland restoration
  • Trash and hazardous waste regulation and compliance
  • COVID-19 related compliance issues and complexities
  • Appeals from agency decisions and litigation support

Gary was formerly on the legal staff of the State Water Resources Control Board, where he served as Chief Counsel to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.  He also advised other Regional Water Boards including the North Coast, Central Coast, and Los Angeles Regional Water Boards. This work involved collaboration with other state agencies, the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC), the Office of the California Attorney General, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and numerous special districts and other local agencies.

Gary is an active member of the Environmental Law section of the State Bar of California and the Environmental Law section of the Bar Association of San Francisco.  He is also a member of the Policy and Permitting, Construction Permit, and Industrial Permit Subcommittees of the California Stormwater Quality Association.  He has degrees from the University of Minnesota and UCLA Law School, has previously worked for the California Legislative Counsel, and was Chief Attorney of a neighborhood law office of the Legal Aid Society of Alameda County.  With this background and experience, he has become skilled at finding practical and effective solutions to complex legal issues.

Gary is a lifelong outdoors man, fisherman, and bird observer. He also enjoys visiting the museums and art galleries of the U.S and Europe with his wife, Ann Holsberry, a prominent Bay Area artist.